Eisteddfod
Pictures: Dinbych 2001

With a few from Llangefni 1999 thrown in for luck.
Click on the photos for a full-sized version.

There are about 6,000
cars in the improvised car parks around the maes.

The
best way to keep track of your car is to fix a
flag on it, so you can find it again.

When you get
through the turnstiles you find yourself in a
huge tented city.

The Denbigh site
was a very attractive one, with hills in the
distance and oak trees around the maes.

All
sorts of organisations are represented, including
universities, charities, government bodies, trade
unions and publishers. . .

. . .as
well as dozens of shops. Its a place to wander
around, browsing, buying, chatting and meeting
people.

You
may come across an impromptu performance by a
choir or dance troupe, or be accosted by. . .

. . .colourful
characters advertising some cause or other.

The
Eisteddfod has everything: police and ambulance
stations, radio and television studios, a post
office. . .

.
. .and a bank, with the all-important cash
dispenser.

Useful if you need to buy a
harp. . .

. . .or just a
pair of boxer shorts with the Welsh flag on.

Of
course they dont just sell harps and pants.

They
sell everything from second-hand books to garden
furniture. . .

.
. .to speciality cheeses to grand pianos. . .

But
unfortunately I only have pictures of harps.

But its not just
shops. Theres a fully-equipped theatre, a dance
venue, a sound stage and a meeting hall.

The queue outside the
literature tent for one of the most popular
events: the improvised competitive versifying
contests. The weather is starting to look iffy,
and with anything up to 200,000 visitors during
the week, the ground soon turns into a swamp.

If you
havent got your wellies, you can always do like
the old ladies and tie plastic carrier bags on
your feet.

But the whole place is
dominated by the mighty Pavilion, where the
central ceremonies are held. It holds 4,000
people, apparently. And a lot of druids.

Round the back
are big changing rooms for the contestants and
officials.

After the
ceremonies you may catch a glimpse of the Gorsedd
processing out.

The
polystyrene cup is not part of the uniform.

I
cant remember what the woman in blue does
exactly.

The
sword that is used during the ceremony in that
quaint mock execution ritual. . .

When you leave
the site during the day they stamp you hand so
you can get back in again. Useful if you suffer a
sudden identity crisis too, and forget who you are.
[Me = Mercher = Wednesday]

Here, the left-hand banner-carrier
appears to recounting to the sword-bearer a
certain episode involving one of the flower-girls,
which he is rather proud of, but which she would
rather forget all about.

Youll probably
just have to take my word for it, but this book
describes this site as "one of the best
websites for finding Welsh learning resources".
[Julie Brake, Y Gymraeg ac e-addysg,
in Cyflwynor Gymraeg: llawlyfr i
diwtoriaid, ed. Christine Jones. Llandysul:
Gwasg Gomer, ISBN 1-85902-903-5, £9.95]

These photos were taken by Stewart Russell and Harry Campbell
at the 1999 (Llangefni) and 2001 (Denbigh) Eisteddfods respectively.
Please dont use them without permission.

There are pictures from the 2002 (St Davids) Eisteddfod here, and you can read more about the Eisteddfod here.